This is the second straight day of Israeli attacks on Palestinian targets in retaliation for suicide bombings inside Israel that killed at least 25 people.

Brigadier General Ron Kitrey is a spokesman for the Israeli military. "We are attacking targets purely military or police targets that were involved in planning or carrying out terrorist activities against Israeli civilians and or soldiers," he said.

The Israeli cabinet has declared the Palestinian Authority a supporter of terrorism and labeled Mr. Arafat's Force 17 security unit and the Tanzim faction of his Fatah group as "terrorist organizations."

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat accused the Israeli government of destroying the peace process and the Palestinian Authority. He called on the world to stop "this madness immediately."

Palestinian analyst Mustafa Barghouthi says the air strikes and a tight closure on the territories are punishing the entire Palestinian population. "This is intolerable," he said. "What is happening is that 3.1 million people, Palestinians, are subjected to collective punishment in an act that can only be described as an act of state terror."

Washington last week sent a special envoy to the region, but the violence has intensified since retired Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni arrived to seek ways of establishing a lasting cease-fire.

Since the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation broke out in September of last year, more than 1,000 people, mostly Palestinians, have died in the conflict.